PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – New York’s approved budget includes new provisions to crack down on retail theft in the Empire State.
More than $40 million is being allocated to local and state police for the creation of retail theft teams.
For business owners, there’s a new tax credit of up to $3,000 for the installation of additional security.
Plattsburgh Police Chief Peter Mitchell says retail theft exists in the Lake City but isn’t as rampant as downstate. However, he says the new funding could help with future cases.
“We do not think we would assign to an actual team but maybe some sporadic, hopefully, details that we can catch people in the act,” Mitchell said.
The budget also instills new penalties for retail theft, upgrading assaults on retail workers to a felony and combining one-time thefts committed by one person into a larger crime which could change some misdemeanors to a felony.